MOTU extends their virtual instrument expertise to the world of vintage
keyboards with Electric Keys. Inside Electric Keys you'll find
recreations of legendary electric pianos, electric organs, clavinets,
Wurlitzers, tape samplers, and other rare and exotic electric keyboard
instruments, which are multi-sampled at 24-bit/96kHz.
MOTU enlisted
fifty well-preserved and maintained vintage instruments from the likes
of Fender, Yamaha, Korg, Roland, Hammond, Wurlitzer, Hohner, Elka,
Farfisa, Mellotron, Moog, RMI, Arp, and others. Electric Keys is like
taking a trip through the annals of rock n' roll and R&B.
Sampled vintage keyboards
Fifty well-preserved and maintained vintage instruments were used to
create the sounds in Electric Keys, including models from Fender,
Yamaha, Korg, Roland, Hammond, Wurlitzer, Hohner, Elka, Farfisa,
Mellotron, Moog, RMI, Arp and others.
Most instrument samples are supplied at 24-bit 96 kHz resolution, but
they can be played at any standard sample rate via Electric Keys'
flexible 32-bit UVI playback engine. Presets consist of carefully
crafted multi-samples with multiple velocities, layers and/or release
samples, depending on the instrument. Samples are streamed from disk,
so even large presets load quickly and conserve computer memory. Sounds
are organized in 12 banks, each with its own authentic look ("skin"),
allowing users to install on their hard drive only the banks they wish
to use. Electric Keys presets can be loaded into MachFive 2 for
advanced sound design and layering.
Simple interface
The Electric Keys window offers a few simple controls, including
volume, pan, tone and tremolo settings, along with two preset slots,
which allow users to layer two sounds using the convenient multi-
column preset browser. When a preset loads, the background displays the
"skin" for the corresponding bank, but the controls and their operation
remain the same, regardless of the unique look and feel for each bank.
Once one or two sounds are loaded, the user can simply play, adjusting
parameters as desired, while CPU-efficient 256-note polyphony ensures
that notes are never cut off due to voice-stealing.
All parameters can be automated via convenient "MIDI learn", where the
user can simply right-click any control to assign any MIDI controller.
Users can load and save "combis" consisting of a snapshot of the entire
plug-in, including effects. Combis can be shared among plug-in formats
and the stand-alone version - even across computer platforms. Dozens of
factory presets and combis are supplied.
The three-dimensional piano keys across the bottom of the Electric Keys
window highlight during playback. Users can click the keys to audition
sounds.
Separate multi-effects rack
Users can click the FX button to open the FX-Rack, which is a separate
window with eight effects that can be applied individually or in
combination as a multi-effect to any preset. Effects include amp
simulation, filter, chorus, flanger, phaser, UVinyl (to add "wear and
tear"), delay and reverb. Since effects can be loaded, created and
saved independently of instrument presets, it is easy to mix and match
effects with presets, allowing users to experiment with practically
infinite combinations. All effects parameters can be automated with
one-click "MIDI Learn" CC assignments.
Plug-in and stand-alone operation
Electric Keys supports all major plug-in formats on Mac OS X and
Windows (XP and Vista), including VST, DXi, MAS, Audio Units and RTAS.
It also runs as a stand-alone application, turning any laptop or
desktop computer into the ultimate electric keyboard instrument.
Features:
- Vintage keyboards for all genres and styles
- Intuitive user interface
- 24-bit/96kHz resolution
- Separate multi-effects rack
- Plug-in and stand-alone operation
- Mac or PC
- VST, DXi, MAS, AU, RTAS